Canadian War Museum to conserve one of its largest paintings – and the public is invited!
Ottawa, September 14 – The Canadian War Museum today began an extensive conservation treatment of Frederick Challener’s painting, Canada’s Grand Armada, 1914, commissioned by Lord Beaverbrook for the First World War art program. The painting was subsequently stored by the National Gallery of Canada until 1971, when it was transferred to the CWM.
The work will be done in Commissionaire’s Way, in full view of the public, who will be able to see what conservation entails, and interact with the conservators.
Mr. J. (Joe) Geurts, Director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum stated: “This is a rare opportunity for visitors to see up close the very difficult and precise efforts that conservators must make in order to repair works of art, and bring them back to their original state, so that future visitors will be able to appreciate the works as they were intended.”
The project was made possible by a generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. William P. Wilder to the Friends of the Canadian War Museum (FCWM). Through their ongoing campaign “Carrying the Torch”, which supports CWM activities such as these, the FCWM will continue to raise funds in order to complete conservation of other First World War canvases, currently on display in Commissionaire’s Way and Thomas G. Fuller Passage.
Along with regular opening hours, work has been scheduled to permit visitors to see the conservators in action on the following Thursdays (free after 4 p.m., open until 9 p.m.): September 29, October 20, November 3 and November 10. In addition, conservators are scheduled to work on the following weekends: September 17 and 18, October 1 and 2, October 28 and 29, and November 6 and 7.
The Canadian War Museum is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Thursdays until 9 p.m. Admission is free on Thursday evenings from 4 p.m. until closing, and half-price on Sundays.
Additional information about this project is available by calling (819) 776-8600 or 1-800-555-5621.
Information about the Friends of the Canadian War Museum is available online at http://www.friends-amis.org/fcwmindex_e.html or by phone at (819) 776-8618.
Backgrounder
Information (media) :
Christina Selin
Senior Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: (819) 776-8607
E-mail: mailto:christina.selin@warmuseum.ca
Pierre Leduc
Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Phone: (819) 776-8608
E-mail: mailto:pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca
Fax: (819) 776-8623
|
|
